Machine for applying fastening devices to fabric articles



Sept. 23, 1958 Filed Sept. 4, 1956 M. COHN MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES TO FABRIC ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 l m as INVEN TOR. .MAt/R/t' con/v BY 7% %M Sept. 23, 1958 co -m 2,852,777

' MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING "DEVICES TO FABRIC ARTICLES Filecl Sept. 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F76. j? F/G/ I v I l l i 1 =3 1 1 1" i 1 1 V415 LL96 B- i I 62 22/ 36 O9? 34 1/ aa 92 w a 94 222 58/08 //0 jg 7 2 8 i2 I Wwfi l7 IN VEN TOR.

MAURICE" C Oil V BY v Sept. 23, 1958 M. COHN 2,352,777

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES TO FABRIC ARTICLES Filed Sept. 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z06 as 6 2/2 22 a IN VEN TOR. 444019/ C'E' (OH V United States Patent O MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES TO FABRIC ARTICLES Maurice Cohn, South Coventry, Conn., assignor to Akim Engineering Company, Inc., Willimantic, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,904

17 Claims. (Cl. 1-3) This invention relates to a machine for securing fastening devices to fabric articles and, more specifically, to a machine for stapling hook and eye type fasteners to garments such as mens trousers.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a machine of the aforementioned type which is capable of substantially foolproof automatic operation and which has provision for the .positive feed of the fastening devices or elements thereof so that the operator need handle only the garment or other article to which the fastener is to be applied whereby the machine can be operated by persons of little or no mechanical skill.

The more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description having reference to the attached drawings wherein the presently preferred embodiment is shown. It should be understood that the drawings and description are not to be taken in a limit ing sense or as defining the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings,

Fig. l. is a perspective view of a garment fastening hook and its backing plate in exploded relationship;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of a garment fastening eye and its backing plate;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a section of tape which adhesively supports garment fastening hooks for feeding the same into the machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a section of tape which adhesively supports a plurality of backing plates for the hooks and which feeds the backing plates into the machine;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention for applying garment fastening devices to fabric articles;

Fig. 6 is a vertical view partially in elevation and partially in section and taken as indicated by the line.

employed in the machine and shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a generally similar element also shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the setting or stapling punch forming a part of the machine.

As mentioned hereinabove, the machine provided in accordance with this invention is particularly adapted to apply hook and eye type fastening devices to garments or other fabric articles. This type of fastening device has many applications, one of the most common applications being on mens trousers to secure the waist band thereof. In Figs. 1 and 2, there are shown the elements making up the fastening device, these comprising a book 10, its backing plate 12, an eye 14 and its backing plate 16. The hook 10 and eye 14 are similar in thatcach has a pair of prongs 18, 18 and the backing plates 12 and 16 are similar in that each has a pair of prong-receiving apertures 20, 20. In applying the hook 10, for example, to one end of the waist band of a trait of trousers, the waist band or at least one fabric layer thereof is placed between the hook and its backing plate 12 and then the hook and backing plate are pressed together so that the prongs 18, 18 will extend through the fabric layer and the apertures 20, 20 and be clinched toward each other on the backing plate. The eye 14 is similarly secured to the other end of the waist band by projecting its prongs 18, 18 through the fabric and apertures 20, 20 of its backing plate 16 so that the ends of the prongs may be clinched over the backing plate toward each other.

Various types of machines have heretofore been offered to the trade for applying the garment fastening hooks and eyes, but I am not aware that any of the known machines have been wholly successful and all have certain disadvantages. For example, machines have been provided for clinching or stapling the hooks and eyes to the fabric articles which operate satisfactorily, but which require time consuming manual feed. Other machines which are designed to be more fully automatic than the machine just mentioned provide complicated feeding mechanism or hoppers which have not been found to be reliable in operation and these machines have been subject to frequent break-down and time consuming periods of inoperation for adjustment and/or repair.

In accordance with the present invention a machine is provided which will set a hook or eye in fabric by clinching the same on its backing plate, and it is a feature of this machine to provide reliable and foolproof means for automatically feeding the hooks and eyes and the backing plates and for properly positioning them for the setting operation of the machine. Positive feed is accomplished by employing tapes which adhesively support the books or eyes and the backing plates therefor and which will feed through the machine in such a manner that the fastening elements are properly positioned for clinching or stapling to the garment, the fastening elements being stripped from the tapes after they have been properly secured.

Figs. 3 and 4 show sections of such tapes, 'the tape 22 being shown as supporting a plurality of garment fastening hooks 10, 10 and the tape 24 being shown as supporting a plurality of backing plates 12, 12 for the said hooks. The hooks and their backing plates are shown supported on the tapes 22 and 24 for example only, and it should be understood that the same or similar tapes could be employed for supporting a plurality of eyes 14, 14 and their backing plates 16, 16. It should also be understood that while the machine to be described is shown as being employed to secure the garment fastening books 10, 10, the same or a similar machine can be employed for applying the garment fastening eyes.

The tapes 22 and 24 are similar in every respect and have an adhesive applied to one side only. The hooks are applied to the tape 22 and adhesively supported thereon with their prongs 18, 18 projecting away from said one side, and the tape is then rolled (preferably on a spool) with the hook prongs projecting radially inwardly and with the non-adhesive side of the tape exposed on the roll. The backing plates 12, 12 are similarly secured to the adhesive side of the tape 24 and then the tape 24 is rolled (preferably on a spool) with the adhesive side of the tape and the backing plates facing outwardly. When the tape 22 with the hooks 10, 10 secured thereto is rolled as described and when the tape 24 with the backing plates 12,

12 secured thereto is rolled as described, they are then ready to be placed upon reel structures 26 and 28, respectively, which form a part of the machine shown in Figs. et seq. and which will now be described.

The machine is preferably arranged upon a table such as the table 30 so that it can be operated from a seated position. The machine frame includes a base 32 which is secured to the top of the table 30, the table 30 being open at the front to accommodate elements of the machine as will be described. A press frame 34 is rigidly secured to the base 32 adjacent the left-hand edge thereof as viewed from the front and the said press frame has a forwardly and upwardly projecting portion providing a guide for a vertically movable ram 36. A hook-setting punch indicated generallyat 38 is secured to the bottom end of the ram 36 for movement relative to an anvil 40 which is mounted on the base 32 below the ram and punch. The ram may be power operated or manually operated by any conventional mechanism not shown.

An angle iron bar 42 is rigidly supported on the righthand face of that portion of the press frame 34 which supports the ram 36 and a relatively large plate 44 is secured to the bar 42 in a substantially vertical position and faces forwardly. The plate 44 is the principal support plate of the frame structure and it is upon this plate that the payofl reel 26 is mounted for the hook tape roll and the said plate also supports a take-up reel 46 for the hook tape 22.

The frame structure for the machine also includes an angle iron suspension bar 48 which is mounted on the base 32 and which extends across the opening in the table 30. The support for the pay-olf reel 28 which receives the rolled backing plate tape 24 is suspended from the bar 48 as is the journal for a take-up reel 50 for the tape 24, and the reels 28 and 50 being disposed below the bar 48 in the front opening of the table 30. I

In accordance with the present invention, the supply spool of tape 22 supporting the hooks 10, is placed on the reel 26 and the tape 22 is then threaded through the machine as will be described onto a spool supported on the take-up reel 46 and. the supply spool of tape 24 supporting the backing plates 12, 12 is placed on the reel 28 and the tape 24 is threaded through the machine as will be described onto a suitable spool supported on the takeup reel 50. In operation of the machine, vertical movement of the ram 36 is utilized to rotate the respective takeup reels 46 and 50 and the said take-up reels are utilized to draw the tapes 22 and 24 respectively through the machine.

The tape 22 is unwound from the pay-off reel 26 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front and then passes over a pair of pulleys 52 and 54in a clockwise direction with the adhesive side of the tape and the hooks 10, 10 facing outwardly with respect to the pulleys. The tape then extends over a pair of rollers 56 and 58 in a counterclockwise direction with the adhesive side of the tape and the hooks 10, 10 facing inwardly and the tape is similarly passed over a third roller 60. Then the tape extends under the hook-setting punch 38 with the hooks facing downwardly and the stripped tape 22 passes through the punch 38 and over a roller 62. The tape passes over the roller 62 in a clockwise direction with the adhesive side of the tape facing outwardly. The stripped tape then passes over a small roller 64 in a clockwise direction and under a pivotally supported pulley 66 in a counterclockwise direction. And, finally, the stripped tape extends upwardly and is wound upon the take-up or drive reel 46 in a counterclockwise direction with the adhesive side of the tape facing inwardly in the roll. Each of the aforementioned elements engaging and supporting the hook tape 22 will now be described.

The pay-off reel 26 is rotatably mounted on a shaft or 'pin 68 which is non-rotatably supported in 'a block 70 to project forwardly from the plate 44 at the upper righthand portion thereof. The spool or roll of tape is held on the reel 26 by means of a plurality of gripping ribs 72 the spool can be placed on the reel from the front thereof.

The forwardly projecting end of the pin or shaft 68 has flattened sides 74, 74 and is threaded. The flattened sides are adapted to receive and non-rotatably support a pressure plate 76 which is placed on the shaft so as to engage the front face 77 of the reel. The said front face has a friction pad, preferably felt, adhesively secured thereto and a spring 78 surrounds the extending end of the shaft and is pressed against the front face of the pressure plate 76 by means of a nut 80 which is threaded on the projecting front end of the spin. Obviously, by turning the nut 80 to advance it toward the disk, the spring force thereon is increased to increase the frictional engagement between the plate 76 and the felt face 77 of the reel 26 whereby to determine the force which must be applied to the tape 22 to rotate the reel on the shaft 68 when unwinding or pulling the tape from the reel.

The pulleys 52 and 54 are similar, being mounted for rotation on shafts or pins 82 and 84, respectively. The pin 82 and pulley 52 are mounted on the main frame plate 44 below and to the right of the pay-off reel 26, the pulley 52 being aligned with the reel 26 forwardly of the plate. The pin 84 and the pulley 54 are supported on a second plate 86 forwardly of. the main frame plate 44, the plate 86 being supported by the plate 44 on suitable posts 88, 88 and on a screw 90. The pulley 54 is located below and slightly to the right of the pulley 52, but it is in the same forwardlyfacing vertical plane.

The rollers 56 and 58 are guide rollers supported on the plate 86 by means of suitable pins. The third guide roller 60 is generally similar to the rollers 56 and 58, but it is rotatably supported on a plate 92 which is secured to the ram 36 for vertical movement with the ram and the hookse'tting punch 38. It will be observed that the guide roller 60 is mounted on the plate 92 above and to the right of the bottom end of the hook-setting punch 38 and it will also be observed that the roller 60 is slightly above the roller 58 on the plate 86. Accordingly, in movement of the ram 36 and hook-setting punch 38 from the position the punch. Thus, the tape 22" is advanced through the feed means and under the end of the punch 38 in step-bystep fashion. The stripped tape passes clockwise around a semi-cylindrical guide block 94 on the bottom of the left-hand face of the punch 38 and passes through a suitable opening 96 in the punch to the roller 62. The roller 62 is rotatably mounted on a pin 98 which is supported in the plate 92 and extends forwardly and rearwardly therefrom. As will be described hereinafter, a cam roller is mounted on the rearwardly extending portion of the pin 98 to rotate the drive means during vertical reciprocation of the ram 36 and the plate 92.

Having passed in a clockwise direction over the roller 62, the tape passes clockwise over the small roller 64 on the plate 86 and then passes counterclockwise under the pivotally supported pulley 66. In passing the pulley 66 counterclockwise, the adhesive side of the tape 22 engages the periphery of that pulley. The pulley 66 is preferably made of Teflon or the like. so that it will not retain adhesive material from the tape passing thereover while still providing adhesive contact for braking purposes as will be described. The pulley 66 is rotatably mounted on a pin 100 which is supported in the end of an arm 102, the other end of the arm being fixed to a pin 104 which is pivotally supported in the plate 86. A second arm 106 is secured to the pin 104 rearwardly of the plate '86 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction downwardly by a spring 108, the spring force on the pulley .being opposed by the tension in the tape 22 as it passes from the pulley 64 to the pulley 66 and as it passes from. the pulley 66 to the take-up reel 46. The spring force can be adjusted and selected by changing the rotated position of aspring support arm 110 on one of the support pins 88 for the plate 86. That is, by rotating the arm 110 and its support 112 on the pin 88 and by fixing the support 112 to the pin 88 in selected rotated position, the tension on the spring 108 is adjusted and selected. When the pulley is drawn upwardly by tension on the tape 22 in opposition to the force of the spring 108, the knurled rim or rims of the pulley 66 (Fig. 8) will engage a pin 113 which projects from the plate '86 whereby to stop rotation of the said pulley. Thus, the pulley 66 when elevated to engagement with the pin 113 provides a brake preventing movement of the tape 22 under the tension applied thereto as will be described. A second pin 115 engages the arm 102 to limit spring biased downward movement of the pulley 66.

The take-up reel 46 is rotatably mounted on a drive shaft 114 which is driven as will be described in step-bystep fashion in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The shaft 114 is supported in a block 116 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter and which is mounted on the front face of the frame plate 44. The projecting front end of the shaft 114 is provided with flat faces 118, 118 to secure a pressure plate 120. The pressure plate 120 rotates with the shaft and bears against the front face 121 of the reel 46, the said front face having a friction pad (preferably cork) adhesively secured thereto. A spring 122 surrounds the projecting end of the shaft 114 and a nut 124 is threaded on the shaft to adjust the force of the spring on the pressure plate 120 whereby to adjust the force of the frictional engagement between the pressure plate 120 and the takeup reel 46. Obviously, the take-up reel 46 will be rotated w th the drive shaft 1.14 and the pressure plate 120 due to the frictional engagement between the said pressure plate and the reel. This frictional engagement and drive for the take-up reel may be characterized as a slip clutch connection. That is, the take-up reel 46 will rotate with the drive shaft 114 provided that the force on the take-up reel opposing rotation thereof does not overcome the frictional force of the pressure plate 120.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that the construction ofthe take-up reel 46 is quite similar to the construction of the pay-off reel 26. The payoff reel is rotatably mounted on a non-rotating shaft, but tension must be applied to the tape 22 to withdraw it from the pay-off reel because the reel 26 is frictionally engaged with its associated pressure plate. The tape can be withdrawn only when sutficient tension is applied thereto to cause the reel 26 to slip relative to the pressure plate. Accordingly, the pay-off reel 26 can be said to incorporate a slip clutch construction similar to that in the take-up reel 46. The frictional force in the slip clutch construction of the take-up reel 46 should be greater than the sum of the frictional force in the pay-off reel 26 and the friction encountered in passing the tape over the various rollers and pulleys in order to advance the tape from the pay-off reel to the take-up reel. Thefrictional forces in the slip clutches of the pay-off reel 26 and the take-up reel 46 are controlled by adjustment of the nuts 80 and 124, respectively. Obviously, such adjustment effects control of the tension'in the tape 22.

As the take-up drive shaft 114 is rotated counterclockwise in step-by-step fashion, the tape 22 is pulled from the reel 26 in step-by-step fashion, the pulling force being that force applied by the take-up reel which exceeds the drag on the tape provided by the pay-off reel and the various pulleys and rollers. In each step of advance of the tape 22, a hook 10 engages a stop in the hook-setting punch 38 and is forced against the stop by the pulling force on the tape and this creates tension in the tape between the stop and take-up reel. Obviously, if the pulling force is too great, the books will be stripped from the tape prematurely. While the pulling force can be controlled by adjustment of the friction clutches incorporated in the reels 26 and 46, such control is not so precise as to provide an absolute safeguard against the possibility of prematurely stripping the books from the tape. Such a safeguard is provided by the braking action of the pulley 66 when it is drawn upwardly into engagement with the pin 113.

More specifically, the tension on the pulleyspring 106 is adjusted to permit the pulley 66 to be drawn upwardly into engagement with the pin 113 when the pulling force applied by the take-up reel 46 on the tape approaches that force which would prematurely strip the hooks from the tape at the hook-setting punch 38. For example, if it is determined that the hooks can be stripped from the adhesive side of the tape by a pulling force of four pounds applied to the tape, the tension of the spring 108 is adjusted so that the pulley 66 will engage and brake against the pin 113 when the pulling force applied by the take-up reel 46 reaches three and onehalf pounds. When the braking pulley 66 engages the pin 113 it can no longer rotate, and the excess pulling force is applied between the take-up reel 46 and the braking pulley. This excess force will cause the take-up reel 46 to slip relative to its pressure plate and the excess force is not applied to the hook against the stop in the hook-setting punch 38.

The drive structure for effecting step-by-step counterclockwise rotation of the take-up reel 46 is indicated genorally in Figs. 5, 6 and 9 by the reference numeral 126. This structure includes a shaft 128 which is rotatably supported in the frame plate 44 and extends forwardly and rearwardly therefrom. A drive gear 130 is secured to the rearwardly extending portion of the shaft 128 and engages a driven gear 132 on the take-up reel shaft 114. Thus, the take-up reel is rotated with rotation of the shaft 128.

A hearing sleeve 134 is press-fitted in the plate 44 to project forwardly therefrom and to rotatably support the shaft 128. A second sleeve 136 is secured to the shaft 128 for rotation therewith and abuts against the forwardly facing end of the first mentioned sleeve 134. A drive disk 138 surrounds the sleeve 136 and is adapted to drive the same in ratchet-like fashion. That is, the drive disk 138 has drive means which will engage and turn the sleeve 136 and thus the shaft 128 clockwise when the disk is rotated clockwise, but counterclockwise rotation of the disk will not cause rotation of the sleeve and shaft. The means effecting the driving engagement between the drive disk and the sleeve and shaft comprise a plurality of balls 140, 140 which are respectively disposed in openings 142, 142 in the disk 138 and which are directed generally tangentially to the periphery of the sleeve 136. The inner ends of the openings or cavities 142, 142 open upon the periphery of the sleeve 136 and the balls 140, 140 are spring biased toward engagement with the sleeve. When the disk 138 is rotated clockwise, the balls 140, 140 are wedged at the bottoms of the cavities against the surface of the sleeve 136 whereby the said sleeve and the shaft 128 are rotated with the disk. When the disk is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the balls move up the cavities against the spring force and there is no wedging action against the sleeve and, therefore, the sleeve 136 and the shaft 128 are not to tated.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the drive disk 138 is biased toward rotation in the counterclockwise direction by a spring 144, the said spring being secured with the drive disk 138 at one end and having its other end attached to a pin 146 which extends between the main frame plate 44 and the forwardly disposed plate 86. The drive disk 138 is moved in a clockwise direction to drive theshaft 128 when the ram 36 is moved upwardly. "That is, a cam roller 148 carried by the plate 92 on the rear end of the pin 98 engages an arm 150 extending radially outwardly from the drive disk 138. As the ram 36 is elevated from a position wherein the hook-setting punch 38 presses a hook against the'anvil- 40, the cam roller 148 engages the arm 150 and elevates the same thereby rotating the drive disk 138 clockwise. When the ram 36 is again lowered, the drive disk 138 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 144. As previously mentioned, clockwise rotation of the drive disk effects rotation of the shaft 128 andtliiis' rotation of the drive gear 130. Accordingly, the driven gear 132 and the take-up reel shaft 114 are rotated counterclockwise. When the drive disk 138 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 144, the shaft. 128 is not rotated. The amount of spring biased counterclockwise rotation of the drive disk 138 is limited by engagement of a pin 152 carried thereby with a pin 154 which is fixed to a stop collar. The stop collar 156 (Fig. 6) is secured to the non-rotating sleeve 134 in adjusted rotated position thereon.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that the take-up reel 46 is driven in step-bystep fashion, one step occurring during each reciprocation of the hook-setting ram and punch. More specifically. the tape-up reel 46 is rotated one step to advance the tape 22 one step each time the hook-setting ram and punch are elevated.

In order to be sure that the take-up reel 46 will not be rotated clockwise by tension on the tape so that the tape will become slack, a one-way brake structure shown in Fig. is incorporated in the said take-up reel. The said brake structure comprises a plurality of balls 158, 158 which are disposed in suitable cavities 160, 160 in the support block 116 to engage the periphery of a rear hub 162 (Fig. 6) which is rotatably disposed in an opening 164 in the support block 116. The halls 158, 158 are biased toward the hub 162 within the cavities 160, 160 whereby to wedge against the hub and prevent movement of the take-up reel 46 in a clockwise direction. However, the reel 46 can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction because no wedging takes place since the balls are merely thrust against the springs in the cavities 160, 160.

The take-up reel 50 for the backing plate tape 24 is also rotated in step-by-step fashion by the drive structure 126. More specifically, a drive sprocket 166 secured to the extending rear end of the shaft 128 engages a chain 168 to rotate a driven sprocket 170 which is secured to the extending rear end of the shaft 172 upon which the take-up reel 50 is mounted. Obviously, the shaft 172 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. The shaft 172 is rotatably supported in the journal block 174 which is suspended from the suspension bar 48 in the front opening of the table 30. The reel 50 is secured to the projecting front end of the shaft 172 similarly to the manner in which the take-up reel 46 is secured to its shaft. That is, a pressure plate 176 is carried by the shaft 172 and biased into engagement with a cork face 178 on the reel 50, the biasing force being supplied by a spring 180 surrounding the shaft 172 and seated upon a nut 182 in threaded engagement with the said shaft. Here again, the reel 50 incorporates a slip clutch construction. v

The pay-off reel for the backing plate tape 24 is also similar to the construction of the previously described reels and incorporates a slip clutch in its construction. The elements in the construction of the pay-off reel 28 include a shaft 184 which is non-rotatably supported in a block secured to and depending from the suspension bar 48, a pressure plate 186, a spring 188 and a spring compressing nut 190.

The tension on the tape 24 is adjusted by adjusting the frictional engagement of the clutch structures incorporated in the reels 28 and 50, with the clutch in the take-up reel 50 being adjusted to provide sufficient grip for pulling the tape from the pay-off reel 28. The tape 24 is pulled from the reel 28 to pass over the rollers 192 and 194 which are rotatably supported on the suspension bar 48. The tape then passes in a counterclockwise direction around a roller 196 which is rotatably supported within the anvil 40. Then, the tape passes under the roller 194 in a counterclockwise direction with its adhesive surface facing outwardly. Finally, the tape passes clockwise over a roller 198 and onto the reel 50. The roller 198 is made of Teflon or similar material because the adhesive side of the tape faces thereagainst.

It is unnecessary to provide a brake structure for. the

backing plate tape 24 similar to the brake structure provided for the hook tape 22 because there will not be sufficient pulling force applied to the tape 24 under any anticipated operating conditions which will effect premature stripping of the backing plates 12, 12 from the tape. That is, the backing plates 12, 12 are secured to the tape 24 substantially in edge-abutting relationship and the pulling force will be insufficient to prematurely strip a backing plate from the tape because such pulling force is opposed by edge-abutting engagement of the adjacent backing plates. As each backing plate is positioned in the anvil 40 against a stop, the next adjacent backing plate may be forced thercagainst and the pull on the tape would have to be sufficient to dislodge or to strip several backing plates from the tape simultaneously. The slip clutches in the reels 28 and 50 can be adjusted with sufficient precision so that the aforedescribed pulling force will never be reached or exceeded.

In Fig. 11, the details of the punch 38 and tne anvil 40 are shown in enlarged scale so that it can be under stood how the hooks and backing plates are positioned for interconnection. As shown herein, the tape 22 carrying the hooks 10, 10 passes beneath the central portion of the punch 38 out between downwardly projecting side walls 200. The tape 22 then extends around the semicylindrical guide block 94 and through the slot 96 toward the roller 62. A shoulder 202 adjacent the lower edge of each side wall 200 is arranged to receive and guide the prong portion of the hook indicated at 204. A stop 206 extends from each side wall 200 to engage the forwardly projecting portion 208 of each hook. Thus, when the tape 22 is advanced one step as described. the hook 10 is positioned below the punch 38 in engagement with the shoulder 202 and the stop 206. A magnet 210 which is secured within the punch 38 helps to hold the hook in the aforedescribed position.

With the hook supported as described at its bottom end, the punch 38 is moved downwardly toward engagernent with the anvil 40. A hook backing plate 12 is nested in the anvil 40 so that its apertures 20. 20 are in registry with the downwardly projecting prongs 18, 18 on the hook. A plate is properly positioned within the anvil when its forward edge engages a stop shoulder 212 in the anvil. That is, the tape 24 in being advanced counterclockwise around the roller 196 will have its backing plates 12, 12 stripped therefrom. A backing plate 12 is stripped from the tape 24 within the anvil 40 by the side edges of the backing plate being engaged by and riding on shoulders 214, 214 defined within the anvil. It is preferred that the trailing edge portion of a backing plate will be secured to the tape 24 when it is positioned in the anvil 40. However, the plate can be completely stripped from the tape so that the next adjacent backing plate will thrust the foremost backing plate into engagement at its forward edge with the stop shoulder 212.

A spring plate 216 is secured to the top of the anvil and the tape 24 and the backing plates 12, 12 move thereunder. The said spring has a centrally disposed upturned portion 218 over the roller 196 which is pressed downwardly by the bottom portion 204 of the hook 10 when the hook-setting punch 38 is brought into engagement with the anvil 40. When pressed downwardly, the spring plate 216 bears against the plate 12 adjacent the plate positioned on the anvil and acts as a brake to prevent the said adjacent plate from jamming the positioned backing plate in the anvil. Also, when the punch and anvil are engaged, the prongs 18, 18 on the hook in the punch are clinched toward each other on the bottom of the backing plate 12 on the anvil by being pressed against a suitable die indicated generally at 220.

In order for a hook and backing plate to be clinched through a layer of fabric, the fabric is placed over the anvil on a plate 222 having an opening 224 at the top of the anvil. Then, a top plate 226 which is biased upwardly is pressed down on the top of the fabric before the punch 38 is lowered. When the punch 38 is again elevated, the flat spring 216 flips the rear end of the hook 10 and the connected backing plate 12 upwardly, thus permitting the next adjacent backing plate to move into position in the anvil 40. In the upward movement of the punch 38, a wire spring 228 connected to the punch 38 at 230 engages under the forwardly projecting portion 208 of the hook to raise the front end of the hook and backing plate so as to be sure that movement of the next backing plate into the anvil will not be in any way obstructed. The hook, after being secured to the backing plate through the fabric, is stripped from the feed tape 22 by the fabric which is held down by the previously mentioned top plate 226, and the next adjacent hook is positioned on the punch by movement of the said feed tape.

Having completed the attachment of a hook 10 to its backing plate 12 and raised the punch 38, the next hook and backing plate are automatically positioned on the punch and on the anvil in the manner previously described. Therefore, the operator need only remove the fabric and insert another fabric piece or article therein to receive the next hook and backing plate.

In some of the following claims, the expression driven reciprocable means is used to refer primarily to the punch structure 38. Inother of the claims, the expression first anvil" is used to refer to the punch 38 and the expression second anvil is used to refer to the anvil 40. Additionally, the term staples as used in the claims is intended to designate an element of the fastening structure such as the element 10 or the element 14 having clinching prongs 18, 18.

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said machine comprising a frame structure including a press frame, a ram supported in the press frame for reciprocable movement, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the first feed tape and to position one of the said elements for each reciprocation of the ram and to press the same into engagement with a backing plate, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second feed tape and to position a backing plate for each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, and drive means operatively associated with the ram for advancing the feed tapes through the punch and anvil, respectively, one step for each reciprocation of the ram.

2. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric .for engagement with an associated backing plate, the

machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said machine comprising a frame structure which includes a press frame, a ram supported in the press frame for reciprocable movement, apunch movable with the 10 ram and adapted to receive the first feed tape and to position one of the said elements during each reciprocation of the ram and to press the same into engagement with a backing plate, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted.

to receive the second feed tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an elementpositioned on the punch, and drive means for advancing the first and second feed tapes through the punch and anvil, respectively, one step for each reciprocation of the ram, the said drive means comprising a first take-up reel connected with. the first feed tape and a second take-up reel connected with the second feed tape, and a one-way drive connecting said take-up reels with said ram whereby to transmit motion from said ram to said reels during reciprocation of the ram.

3. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the machine being adapted to receivea first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said machine comprising a frame structure which includes a press frame, a ram supportedin the press frame for reciprocable movement, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the first feed tape and to position one of the said elements during each. reciprocation of the ram and to press the same into engagement with a backing plate, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second feed tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, and drive means for advancing the first and second tapes through the punch and anvil so as to cooperate therewith in the aforesaid positioning of the element and the backing plate, the said drive means comprising a first take-up reel connected with the first tape and a second take-up reel connected with the second tape, and a one-way drive connecting said ram and said take-up reels to transmit motion from said ram to said reels during movement of the ram away from the anvil whereby the feed tapes are advanced.

4. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the 4 machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said first and second feed tapes being provided in rolls, the said machine comprising a frame structure which includes a press frame, a ram supported in the press frame for reciprocable movement, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the first feed tape and to position one of the said elements during each reciprocation of the ram and to press the same into engagement with a backing plate, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second feed tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, and means for advancing the first and second feed tapes through the punch and anvil, respectively, one step for each reciprocation of the ram, the said means comprising a pay-off reel for the first tape and a take-up reel connected with the first tape, a pay-off reel for the second tape and a take-up reel connected with the second tape, and a oneway drive connecting said take-up reels with said ram whereby to transmit motion from said ram to said takeup reels during each reciprocation of the ram.

5. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an. element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the hacking plates,

the first and second feed tapes being provided in rolls, the said machine comprising a frame structure which includes a press frame, a ram supported in the press frame for reciprocable movement, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the firstfeed tape and to position one of the said elements during each reciprocation of the ram and to press the same into engagement with a backing plate, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second feed tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, the positioning of the element on the punch and the positioning of the 'backing plate on the anvil taking place as the ram is f 1 moved away from the anvil, and means for advancing the first and second tapes through the punch and anvil so as to cooperate therewith in the aforesaid positioning of the element and the backing plate, the said means comprising a pay-ofi reel for the first tape and a take-up reel connected with the first tape, a pay-off reel for the second tape and a take-up reel connected with the second tape, and a one-way drive connecting said ram and said take-up reels to transmit motion from said ram to said take-up reels during movement of the ram away from the anvil whereby the said tapes are advanced step-by-step.

6. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric into engagement with an associated backing plate, the machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the tapes being provided in rolls, the said machine comprising a frame structure including a press frame, a ram supported by the press frame for reciprocable movement, a-punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the first tape and to position an element during each reciprocation of the ram, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, means for advancing the feed tapes through the punch and anvil, respectively, so as to cooperate therewith in positioning the element and backing plate, the said means comprising a pay-off reel for the first tape and a take-up reel connected with the first tape, a pay-off reel for the second tape and a take-up reel connected with the second tape, a plurality of guide rollers for the respective tapes between the respective pay-off and take-up reels including a guide roller for the first tape movable with the ram, and a one-way drive connecting said ram and the take-up reels to transmit motion from the ram to the take-up reels during reciprocation of the ram to advance the feed tapes.

7. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric into engagement with an associated backing plate, the machine being adapted to receive a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second i feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the tapes being provided in rolls, the said machine comprising a frame structure including a press frame, a ram supported by the press frame for reciprocable move-/ ment, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive the first tape and to position an element during reciprocation of the ram, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the second tape and to position a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element positioned on the punch, means for advancing the feed tapes through the punch and anvil, respectively, so as to cooperate therewith in positioning the element and backing plate, the said means comprising a pay-off reel for the first tape and a take-up reel connected with the first tape, a pay-0E reel for the second tape and a take-up reel connected with the second tape, each of said reels having a slip clutch associated therewith which is manually adjustable whereby the tension in the tapes between the respective pay-off reels and take-up reels can be adjusted, and a one-way drive connecting said ram and the take-up reels to transmit motion from the ram to the take-up reels during reciprocation of the ram whereby to advance the said tapes.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7 and including a brake associated with said first tape, said brake comprising a pulley engaged by said first tape and movable relative to the frame structure, a stop secured to said frame structure and arranged for engagement by said pulley in movement in one direction thereof relative to the frame whereby to arrest rotation of the pulley and to cause the clutch associated with the take-up reel for said first tape to slip, the pulley being movable into engagement with the stop by pulling force applied to said first tape by its take-up reel, and manually adjustable spring means biasing said pulley in movement relative to the frame structure away from said stop.

9. A punch and anvil construction for securing fastening devices to fabric, the fastening devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the punch and anvil having means thereon for respectively guiding a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of backing plates, the said punch being movable toward and away from the anvil and having one end facing toward the anvil and adapted to accommodate movement of the first feed tape thereover, stop means engageable with each successive element on the first feed tape to position each element successively on said end of the'punch for engagement with a backing plate on the anvil, and the anvil being adapted to accommodate movement of the second feed tape therethrough, stop means on said anvil engageable with each successive backing plate on the second feed tape to position each backing plate successively for engagement with an element positioned on the punch.

10. A punch and anvil construction for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the punch and anvil being adapted for use with a first feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the elements and a second feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said punch being movable toward and away from the anvil and adapted to accommodate movement of the first feed tape over its end which faces the anvil, stop means engageable with each successive element as the first tape is moved over the punch to position each element successively for engagement with backing plates supported on the anvil, the anvil being adapted to accommodate movement of the second feed tape therethrough, stop means engageable with each successive backing plate as the second tape is moved through the anvil to position each backing plate successively for engagement with an element positioned by the punch, spring means supported on the anvil and engageable with the element to lift one end of the element and a backing plate connected therewith from said anvil when the punch is moved away from the anvil, and spring means supported on the punch and engageable with the element to lift the other end of the element and a backing plate connected therewith from the anvil when the punch is moved away from the anvil.

11. A machine for applying a fastening element to fabric in an operation which involves movement of the element from a spaced position into engagement with the fabric, the said machine comprising driven reciprocable means for moving the element from the said spaced position into engagement with the fabric, the reciprocable means being adapted to receive a feed tape and having stop means movable therewith and engageable with an element secured to the tape, drive means for applying a 'pulling force to the tape to engage the element with the stop means and to thereafter tension the tape, and the said machine also comprising guide means for the tape to permit movement thereof with the reciprocable means to effect the said engagement of the element with the fabric without substantial change in the tension applied to the tape.

12. A machine for applying a fastening element to fabric or the like in an operation which involves movement of the element from a spaced position into clinching engagement in the fabric, the said machine comprising an anvil over which the fabric is to be placed, a ram reciprocable toward and away from t e anvil, a punch connected to the ram for reciprocation therewith and adapted to receive a feed tape supporting a plurality of the elements, the said punch being provided with stop means engageable with one such element supported by the tape to retain the element and the tape for movement with the punch and ram from the spaced position into engagement with the anvil whereby to be clinched in the fabric, and drive means for advancing the feed tape through the punch to engage the said elements with the stop means in sequence, the said drive, means comprising a take-up reel connected with the feed and a comprising a take-up reel connected with the feed tape and a one-way drive mechanism for rotating said take-up reel.

13. A machine for applying a fastening element to fabric or the like in an operation which involves movement of the element from a spaced position into clinching engagement in the fabric, the said machine comprising a frame structure supporting an anvil over which the fabric is to be placed, a ram reciprocable toward and away from the anvil, a punch connected to the ram for reciprocation therewith and adapted to receive a feed tape supporting a plurality of the elements, the said punch being provided with stop means engageable with one such element supported by the tape to retain the element and the tape for movement with the punch wand ram from the spaced position into engagement with the anvil whereby to be clinched in the fabric, and means for advancing the said tape through the punch during reciprocation thereof to engage the said elements with the stop means in sequence, the said means comprising a pay-off reel and a take-up reel for the tape, tape guide means between the said reels including a guide movable with the punch and ram and arranged to avoid substantial change in ,the pulling force on the tape caused by movement of the punch and ram, and drive means operatively associated with the ram and said take-up reel to advance the tape responsive to movement of the ram.

14. A machine for applying a fastening element. to fabric or the like in an operation which involves movement of the element from a spaced position into clinching engagement in the fabric, the said machine comprising a frame structure supporting an anvil over which the fabric is to be placed, a ram reciprocable toward and away from the anvil, a punch connected to the ram for reciprocation therewith and adapted to receive a feed tape supporting a plurality of the elements, the said punch being provided with stop means engageable with one such element supported by the tape to retain the same for movement with the punch and ram from the spaced position into engagement with the anvil whereby to be clinched in the fabric, and means for advancing the said tape through the punch during reciprocation thereof to engage the said elements with the stop means in sequence, the said means comprising a pay-off reel and a take-up reel for the tape, a slip clutch associated with said takeup reel, drive means operatively associated with the ram and the take-up reel to advance the tape responsive to movement of the ram, a brake for said tape comprising a pulley engaged by the tape and movable relative to the frame structure, a stop secured to the frame structure for engagement by the pulley to arrest rotation thereof and thereby to cause said clutch to slip, the pulley being movable into engagement with the stop by pulling force applied to the tape by the take-up reel, and manually adjustable spring means biasing said pulley away from said stop.

l5. An anvil construction for securing fastening devices to fabric, the fastening devices being of the type comprising an element having clinching prongs adapted to extend through the fabric for engagement with an associated backing plate, the anvil having means thereon for guiding a feed tape adhesively securing a plurality of the backing plates and being particularly adapted to accommodate movement of the feed tape thereover, and stope means on said anvil engageable with each successive backing plate on the feed tape to position each backing plate successively for engagement by an element.

16. A machine for securing fastening devices to fabric, the devices being of the type comprising an element having prongs adapted to extend through the fabric and an associated backing plate for clinching engagement therewith, the machine being adapted to receive a feed tape securing a plurality of the backing plates, the said machine comprising a frame structure, a ram supported in the frame structure for reciprocable movement, a punch movable with the ram and adapted to receive one of the elements and to press the same into clinching engagement with a backing plate during each reciprocation of the ram, an anvil associated with the ram and adapted to receive the said feed tape and to position a backing 7 plate during each reciprocation of the ram for engagement with an element received by the punch, and drive means for advancing the feed tape through the anvil one step for each reciprocation of the ram.

17. A stapling machine comprising, a first anvil, a second anvil, means to move said anvils relative to each other, a first supply reel of tape having a plurality of staples secured along the length thereof, friction drive means tending to drive said tape from said supply reel over one of said anvils, stop means for engaging a staple and stopping the tape with a staple positioned over said one anvil, a second supply reel of tape having a plurality of backing plates secured along the length thereof, friction drive means tending to drive said tape from said second supply reel over the other of said anvils, and stop means for engaging a backing plate and stopping the tape from the second supply reel with a backing plate positioned on the other anvil in stapling alignment with the staple positioned on the one anvil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,453 Pavlin Oct. 1, 1940 2,738,093 Derby Mar. 13, 1956 2,755,471 Wittkuhns July 24, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,852,777 September 23, 1958 Maurice (John It is herebfi certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above "numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 7, line 26, for "tape -up reel"read take up reel column 13, line 25 strike out "comprising a teke -up reel connected with the feed and a"; column 14, line 25 for stops read we stop Signed and sealed this 25th day of November 1958.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

